The sun stood high, the sea glimmered like molten glass.
Alvios lay stretched out on the roof of the captain's cabin, arms folded behind his head.
The wind played with his hair as the ship Emerald Wind glided steadily over the waves.
He took a deep breath and smiled.
"If life were always this peaceful…" he murmured.
A outcry broke the silence.
"Hey, kid! I'm talking to you!"
The voice of a drunk echoed across the deck.
A small boy with catears flinched.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to step on your foot!"
The man grabbed him roughly by the shoulder.
"Listen to me, kid! I'll cut your ears off if you don't..."
A dull headbutt silenced him.
"I'm not a boy," she hissed, "my name is Viktoria Aurelis! Remember that name well!"
The drunk staggered, grabbed a knife — on it was the symbol of a snake, crudely carved.
"You little bitch!"
Viktoria backed away, slid under his legs, and drew two blades, elegant and shimmering.
One glowed like golden flames, the other shimmered like the shadow itself.
"Luminis and Umbraeris," she whispered.
Light and darkness, in balance.
He lunged at her—but she was faster. With a smooth movement, she slid between his legs and threw one of the blades. The weapon struck him hard on the hip; a cry of pain escaped him. As he staggered, she drew the second blade in one fluid cut and severed his left ear. It was a quick, precise blow—not out of hatred, but because she was determined to end the situation. Viktoria detested killing; she saw herself as a servant of mercy, not an executioner. Nevertheless, she had no qualms about defending herself.
"You little bitch," she hissed, her hands still on the hilt of the blade. "You'll regret this."
The drunk held his wound, bleeding and groaning. Viktoria breathed heavily, her hands trembling with exhaustion and disgust. "I don't want to kill anyone..." she muttered to herself.
But three more men stepped forward, grinning.
"Well, look at that, a kitten with knives."
"Three against one," thought Viktoria. "Cowardly bastards."
She took a deep breath.
"Do I... really have to kill?" she whispered, almost to herself.
Her hands trembled.
"No. I... can solve this another way."
But her opponents closed in.
Viktoria stood with her back to the railing, the sea below her.
"Damn..."
Then a voice rang out from above.
"Hey. You dropped something... looks like an ear."
Everyone looked up. Only a silhouette was visible against the sun.
"You disturbed my nap," said the stranger calmly.
"That was a mistake."
He jumped. He kicked the drunk man in the face; while still in midair, he landed, grabbed the blade that was still lodged in the man's hip, pulled it free, and sprinted toward the other three thugs. He tossed the blade into the air, struck the first one in the face with a speed that far exceeded that of an ordinary man, then turned and broke the second one's knee.
"Aaagh, my knee!" the man screamed in pain. Alvios caught the blade as it fell back down.
The third thug was too terrified to attack; he froze in fear. The wounded one, still conscious, tried to get up. "Shit, that hurts! Why the hell did you just stand there?" he shouted. Shocked and panicking, the third thug stammered, "Did you see his speed? He's faster than us!"
"Excuses. Come on, we attack him together — and if you hesitate again, I'll kill you myself, got it?" snarled the wounded man. Both charged at Alvios.
"Oh man, you two are so uncivilized," Alvios said with an arrogant grin. He plunged the blade into the deck, then dashed toward them, faster than their eyes could follow. With one swift motion, he struck both in the stomach — they collapsed unconscious to the floor.
When silence returned, Alvios stepped into the sunlight.
"And that's it for my break."
He picked up the blade that had fallen from Victoria's hand.
A gentle pulse ran through the hilt as the sun touched the runes.
He recognized fine engravings — words in ancient Aether script:
Lux Veritatis and Umbrae Custos.
"Light and shadow… a balance," he thought.
"Just like everything in this world."
"I think this belongs to you," he said aloud, handing her the weapons.
"My blades… you picked it up?"
She beamed. "Thank you, my prince."
"My what?" Alvios asked, confused.
"In the name of my house and my honor… will you marry me?"
Alvios's eyes widened. "Marry you?! We didn't even know each other for five minutes!"
"Then let's get to know each other now," She asked innocently while graping his hands softly.
A third voice interrupted them.
"How about you two sort that out later?"
A young man with sand-colored hair stepped from the shadow of the mast.
Across his back rested a bow — fine, masterfully made, carved from Aetherwood.
Three runes were engraved into the wood, glowing softly in hues of wind-blue, crystal-white, and earth-brown:
Ventus Movere.
Crystallis Nexus.
Terra Vincula.
Alvios's gaze lingered.
"Runic arrows… impressive."
The stranger smiled calmly.
"Nouel Wertli. Hunter. I hunt anything that moves — monsters, prey, or stupid decisions."
Victoria blinked. "Nice to meet you. I'm Victoria Aurelis, daughter of—"
"Save it," Nouel interrupted. "I just want a quiet voyage."
Then the ship shuddered.
Waves slammed against the hull, gulls screeched.
Alvios turned toward the sea.
A dark shadow slid beneath the surface — large, far too large.
Nouel drew his bow.
"…Hey guys, do you feel that too?"
A moment of silence. Then bubbling water rose.
Something moved in the depths.
And the sky, which moments ago had been clear, darkened.
Something was awakening beneath the waves.